Kevin Carter | Defensive Lineman

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Free agent DL Kevin Carter is leaning towards retirement, according to his player representative.

"Nothing has changed," said agent Harold Lewis. "Still leaning to calling it a career." Carter has drawn interest from the Lions and Patriots, but New England has moved on. Playing for Detroit doesn't seem to be in the cards. Mon, Aug 31, 2009 03:41:00 PM

Free agent DE Kevin Carter will either play for the Patriots or retire.

There is no timetable for the 14-year veteran to make his decision. He'd only add depth to an already ridiculously talented New England team. He probably doesn't mind stalling to miss more of training camp either. Fri, Aug 14, 2009 08:43:00 AM

Mike Lombardi of the National Football Post hears that there's an "80 percent chance" free agent DL Kevin Carter will sign with New England.

Following the Derrick Burgess trade, the Pats look nothing short of loaded on both sides of the ball. Carter would have a good shot at one more Super Bowl appearance in New England, even if it's as Richard Seymour's backup. Sat, Aug 8, 2009 11:56:00 PM

Free agent DE Kevin Carter is expected to decide whether to sign with the Patriots by Thursday.

So if he doesn't sign by tonight he'll probably hold out for a place he can get more playing time, although Carter would take lots of reps in Pats camp right away. DEs Richard Seymour and Ty Warren are sitting as a precaution. Thu, Aug 6, 2009 09:14:00 AM

Player News

Free agent DE Kevin Carter will either play for the Patriots or retire.

There is no timetable for the 14-year veteran to make his decision. He'd only add depth to an already ridiculously talented New England team. He probably doesn't mind stalling to miss more of training camp either.

Mike Lombardi of the National Football Post hears that there's an "80 percent chance" free agent DL Kevin Carter will sign with New England.

Following the Derrick Burgess trade, the Pats look nothing short of loaded on both sides of the ball. Carter would have a good shot at one more Super Bowl appearance in New England, even if it's as Richard Seymour's backup.

Free agent DE Kevin Carter is expected to decide whether to sign with the Patriots by Thursday.

So if he doesn't sign by tonight he'll probably hold out for a place he can get more playing time, although Carter would take lots of reps in Pats camp right away. DEs Richard Seymour and Ty Warren are sitting as a precaution.

A tackle/end for most of his career, Carter could provide the Pats with depth behind starting DEs Richard Seymour and Ty Warren. Carter previously was on the Lions' radar. He'd have a far better shot at playing time in Detroit.

Team president Tom Lewand says the Lions will "stay in touch" with free agent DL Kevin Carter during training camp.

Lewand says the club's priority for now is getting its draft class signed. They have Derrick Williams, Louis Delmas, Brandon Pettigrew, and Sammie Hill left. No teams are beating down Carter's door, so Detroit can afford to wait.

Kowalski says Carter, turning 36, probably won't sign until two-a-days are done. The Lions could use him at defensive end on running downs to spell Cliff Avril, or at defensive tackle. Ideally, though, Detroit won't need him.

Carter, 36, visited the Lions in late April. "I think he has earned the right to wait and enjoy the summer with his family," Carter's agent, Harold Lewis, wrote Tuesday in an e-mail. "Now, if an offer was made that we can't resist, then I'm sure we would make it sooner."

Before signing Carter, the new coaching staff wants to see how third-year defensive end/tackle Ikaika Alama-Francis takes to Jim Schwartz's system after busting in his first two seasons. "IAF" and Carter play the same position.

Kevin Carter is currently listed as the Bucs' starting left defensive end.

Carter is ahead of Greg White, who will be the No. 3 end at worst and likely play the most even if he doesn't formally pass Carter. Jimmy Wilkerson and Marques Douglas are listed as RE Gaines Adams' backups.

"It was big money he turned down (from Oakland), but he went with heart rather than the pocket," his agent said. Carter has a chance to be the Bucs' starting left end in 2008, but he'll likely come off the field on passing downs.

Depth Charts

Bucs placed DE Noah Spence on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, ending his season.

He needs season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum. Both of Spence's two NFL seasons have been set back by a pair of torn labrums in his shoulder. He was able to play through it with a brace as a rookie and had been doing the same for weeks this season until finally caving and requiring surgery this week. Spence has one sack this year, but the Bucs only have seven as a team. It's a big loss for an already-inept pass defense. Darryl Tapp was signed as a replacement.